WASHINGTON, August 2, 2017 - Keith Holmes, the owner and throttleman on the American Ethanol Cat Can Do catamaran, was killed Sunday in a collision during the St. Clair River Classic offshore powerboat race in Michigan. Holmes, who also owned CK Motorsports in Nunica, Mich., was considered one of the world’s premier offshore powerboat racers. Emily Skor, the CEO of Growth Energy, said the organization is deeply saddened by the loss of a close friend and partner. “Keith was the ultimate competitor out on the water, with nearly three decades of racing experience, competing in over 150 races with 86 victories across the United States. He was a passionate champion for biofuels, but more importantly, he was an amazing person: full of life, energy, and kindness.” The driver of the two-man 40-foot boat, Jamie Sartin, was said to be in critical condition in a Detroit hospital. The crew of the other boat involved in the collision, Miss Geico, reportedly were uninjured.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission named Chris Henderson as its senior resident inspector at the Arkansas Nuclear One facility in Russellville, Ark. Henderson, who was trained as a nuclear submarine officer in the Navy, joined the NRC in 2010 as a reactor operations engineer, and has worked as the resident inspector at the Cooper Nuclear Station in Brownville, Neb. All commercial nuclear power plants have at least two resident inspectors. Henderson joins resident inspectors Tom Sullivan and Margaret Tobin at Arkansas Nuclear One.

President Trump has nominated C. J. Mahoney, of Kansas, to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative, focusing on investment, environment, labor and services as well as Africa, China and the Western Hemisphere. He is currently a partner at Williams & Connolly LLP where his practice focuses on international disputes and arbitration. He also teaches a course in international arbitration at Yale Law School, from which he graduated.

The American Council on Renewable Energy has two new board members. Jacob Susman is vice president and head of origination at EDF Renewable Energy, and Kevin Walsh is managing director and group head of power and renewable energy at GE Energy Financial Services. ACORE is a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing value to the renewable energy industry through market development, policy changes, and financial innovation.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Rod Hebrink, President and CEO of Compeer Financial. The lack of certainty from a new farm bill and weak commodity prices due to lost export markets and robust supplies have left farmers and lenders with a grim outlook for 2019. In this interview, Hebrink discusses the challenge of the unknown and the need for legislators and the White House to take action on farm policy, trade and regulations to help rural America prepare for the year ahead.

The world of agriculture extends beyond what’s growing in your field or living in your barn, and here at Agri-Pulse, we understand that. We make it our duty to inform you of the most up-to-date agricultural and rural policy decisions being made in Washington D.C. and examine how they will affect you – the farmer, the lobbyist, the government employee, the educator, the consultant and the concerned citizen.